What is Microsoft.photos.exe

Have you ever noticed a Windows process in your Task Manager called Microsoft.Photos.exe? The legitimate Microsoft.Photos.exe file is a software component of Microsoft Photos, which launches Microsoft Photos.

The executable file is designed for Windows operating systems only.

Microsoft Photos[1] is an image viewer, image organizer, video clip editor, raster graphics editor and photo sharing app built-in Windows 8 and Windows 10. It can be used as a replacement for Windows Photo Viewer[2]. The Microsoft Photos application is capable of uploading photos to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and OneDrive. It also enables users to organize their digital photo collection in gallery view, allows basic graphics editing functions such as red-eye reduction, cropping, resizing and blemish removal.

Microsoft.Photos.exe

The .exe extension on a filename stands for an executable file. An executable file is a computer file which contains an encoded sequence of instructions and is used to perform various functions or operations on a device. The executable file has been compiled, so it cannot be read.

However, executable files are able to harm and infect the computer in many ways.

Some malware is able to camouflage itself as Microsoft.Photos.exe

The Microsoft.Photos.exe is a legitimate process which runs in Task Manager and its default location is C:\\Program Files\\WindowsApps\\(…)\\Microsoft.Photos.exe.

Microsoft.Photos.exe is not an essential component for Windows so it can be removed from the system. It is worth to mention that malware could camouflage as a genuine Microsoft.Photos.exe process and damage users’ systems.

In this case, users have to check if the Microsoft.Photos.exe process on the system is a legitimate process or a threat.

Microsoft.Photos.exe virus

Malicious software and malware can easily camouflage as a legitimate Microsoft.Photos.exe process and cause damage to users and their devices. Security researchers note that the executable can be related to Trojan horses.

The easiest way to check if the Microsoft.Photos.exe is a legitimate process or a malware is to check its’ location using the Task Manager. If the executable file location appears as C:\\Program Files\\WindowsApps\\(…)\\Microsoft.Photos.exe then it is a genuine process and cannot harm your PC. However, if the file appears in a different location or using high amount of system’s CPU usage, then it can be a Trojan horse.

To be sure, you should scan your system using a reputable antivirus system.

Note: If you are not sure which security application to use, make sure to check out our Security page and find the solution which is just right for you.

A Trojan horse, also known as Trojan, is a malicious computer program which tricks users of its true intent and disguised itself as a legitimate software.

Trojans can be employed by cyber-thieves and hackers trying to gain access to users' systems. Users are typically tricked by some form of social engineering into loading and executing Trojans on their systems. Once activated, Trojans can enable cyber-criminals to spy on you, steal your sensitive data, and gain backdoor access to your system.[3]

If you found the Microsoft.Photos.exe to be a malicious file it can cause you the following security risks and issues:

Stealing and deleting personal information or sensitive data.

Monitor users’ information, since the virus is able to access a computer’s camera, microphone or user’s browser’s activity.

Injecting other malware.

Causing identity theft.

Methods used to distribute Microsoft.Photos.exe virus

The genuine Microsoft.Photos.exe process comes with a Microsoft Photos application.

However, the malicious version of the file can be distributed via spam email attachments, bogus software downloads, exploit kits, malware-laden ads or via fake updates.

Trojan horses are extremely hard to detect and eliminate.

The most popular method to spread the Trojan horse virus is via spam email.

Protect yourself against Trojan horses

The effective anti-malware and anti-virus system can protect your system against Trojan horses and other malware and cyber threats. A reputable anti-malware solution can detect and prevent Trojan attacks on the PC and protect you against rogue software.

Microsoft.Photos.exe removal

If you decided to remove Microsoft.Photos.exe from your PC, you should check if an executable file is really malicious. If you remove a legit Microsoft.Photos.exe file, it is possible that your Microsoft Photos application will not work.

We recommend you not to remove microsoft.photos.exe if it is a legitimate process

As it was mentioned before, you should check the location of the executable file and check if it uses an abnormal amount of the system’s CPU. In addition, make sure to scan your PC using a reputable antivirus system.

Important! Make sure to run a full system scan using a legitimate and reliable antivirus and internet security software for your PC which will detect and remove all kinds of PUPs, malware and viruses. If you are not sure what security software to choose, make sure to check out our Security page.

Our security team at Reviewed by Pro constantly tries new products in order to provide you with up-to-date information and reviews of the latest Internet security and antivirus applications not just for your Windows PC, but also for your Mac and Android devices.

About the author

Tomas Statkus
- Team leader

Tomas Statkus is an IT specialist, the team leader, and the founder of Reviewedbypro.com. He has worked in the IT area for over 10 years.